(The Center Square) – Since Gov. Greg Abbott launched his border security mission, Operation Lone Star, in 2021, OLS officers have apprehended more than 530,600 illegal border crossers. They’ve also made more than 50,000 criminal arrests, with more than 43,000 felony charges reported.
They’ve also seized more than 622 million lethal doses of fentanyl – enough to kill everyone in the U.S., Mexico and Canada combined.
They’re also continuing to arrest “Special Interest Aliens,” those flagged for potential terrorist ties.
In Hidalgo County, an OLS Texas Department of Public Safety brush team apprehended four SIAs who illegally entered the U.S. from Turkey, in Mission, Texas. They were led into the country by a coyote from Mexico. DPS arrested the coyote for human smuggling. The Turkish nationals were referred to Border Patrol.
DPS officers have also been arresting SIAs from Afghanistan, the Congo, Egypt and Iran, The Center Square reported. SIAs are noncitizens who, based “on an analysis of travel patterns,” are “known or evaluated to possibly have a nexus to terrorism” who “potentially poses a national security risk to the United States,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security explains.
OLS Texas National Guard soldiers are also using advanced technology to stop illegal activity along the southern border.
In a single day, they used a combination of ground surveillance radar and thermal imaging to detect and turn back 62 foreign nationals illegally entering from Mexico.
They’re also conducting “Migration Operational Readiness Exercises” (MORE) with DPS and other law enforcement partners along the Rio Grande River. OLS Texas Task Force East – Strike Team is training to provide a quick reaction force to respond to potential mass migration emergencies, 1Lt. Jacob Eggimann said in a recent video announcement.
“We are conducting a MORE,” using M2S2, drones, boats, Humvees and other equipment working with law enforcement partners, he said. Many under his command trained as military police and are making “a clear statement that this is the border,” he said.
“This is the line. This is our house. We control our house. We are going to maintain our border and work together with our law enforcement partners to control who is coming in and to protect our communities.”
The Modular Mobile Survey System (M2S2) he’s referring to enhances their ability to effectively target transnational criminals with infrared, high-definition camera and radar.
Four years into the border crisis, OLS officers are continuing to apprehend human smugglers in Webb County, whose residents overwhelmingly support President-elect Donald Trump and his border policies.
In one case, the driver of a stolen GMC Sierra led OLS DPS troopers on a high-speed chase on IH-35. During the pursuit, the driver, from San Antonio, crashed into another vehicle while continuing to evade capture. Troopers successfully deployed a tire deflation device, causing the driver to stop. He bailed out and ran toward the brush but was caught and arrested. He was charged with evading arrest, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, failure to stop and render aid, and four counts of smuggling of persons with the likelihood of serious bodily injury or death. Four Mexican illegal border crossers inside the vehicle were turned over to Border Patrol.
In another case, OLS DPS troopers pulled over the driver of an 18-wheeler on IH-35 who gave consent to search his vehicle. Inside, the trooper found 12 Mexican illegal border crossers, including a 16-year-old.
The driver and passenger, both from Laredo, were charged with 11 counts of smuggling of persons and one count of smuggling of persons under the age of 18. The Mexicans were turned over to Border Patrol.
Webb County made history in November, voting for Donald Trump and flipping the county red. Its county judge was the latest to switch parties and become a Republican, The Center Square reported.
Hispanic Texans, including those living at the border, support Texas border security efforts, according to multiple polls.
